New registered nurses in Arkansas typically earn around $60,780 per year, which is the 10th percentile figure for the state. When budgeting for an entry-level hire, use that figure as your floor and expect candidates with even one to two years of experience to push toward the 25th percentile of $66,640.
Registered nurse salary in Arkansas (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Arkansas is $81,520 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $78,940 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arkansas employs 29,400 registered nurses, and the $2,580 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Arkansas typically earn around $60,780, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $103,660 threshold at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Arkansas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $78,940 |
Average Annual Salary | $81,520 |
vs. National Average | 19.6% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 29,400 employed registered nurses across Arkansas.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in Arkansas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $60,780 |
25th Percentile | $66,640 |
75th Percentile | $90,280 |
90th Percentile | $103,660 |
Employers hiring entry-level registered nurses in Arkansas can anchor offers near $60,780, while roles requiring specialized experience or leadership typically command offers approaching or exceeding $103,660. The $42,880 spread across the distribution means that role scope and specialization should drive where within the range you set your offer.
City | Average Annual Salary |
Little Rock | $85,890 |
Fayetteville | $83,300 |
Jonesboro | $81,950 |
Texarkana | $79,130 |
Fort Smith | $77,970 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a registered nurse in Arkansas, so employers should calibrate budgets to the specific market rather than relying on the statewide average alone. Little Rock leads at $85,890 per year, while Fort Smith sits at $77,970, a difference of $7,920 that can shift your compensation budget noticeably if you are hiring across multiple sites.
How Arkansas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
Missouri | $85,900 | $81,780 |
Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 |
Oklahoma | $85,060 | $82,920 |
Arkansas | $81,520 | $78,940 |
Mississippi | $78,950 | $77,090 |
Arkansas is a cost-effective market for registered nurse hiring relative to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a real budget advantage when competing for talent that has not yet relocated. The Arkansas mean of $81,520 sits below Missouri ($85,900), Tennessee ($85,390), Oklahoma ($85,060), and Texas ($95,380), though it edges above Mississippi ($78,950), so candidates with cross-state options may factor those differences into their decisions.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Arkansas
How much does a new RN make in Arkansas?
What is the highest a RN can get paid?
The 90th percentile for registered nurses in Arkansas is $103,660 per year, which represents what senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. When competing for highly experienced or specialized candidates, plan for offers at or above that threshold, particularly in higher-paying markets like Little Rock where the average already reaches $85,890.
How does Arkansas compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
Arkansas sits below most of its regional neighbors, with a mean of $81,520 compared to Missouri at $85,900, Tennessee at $85,390, Oklahoma at $85,060, and Texas at $95,380. That gap makes Arkansas a more cost-effective hiring market, but candidates who are weighing offers from neighboring states may expect you to close some of that difference through benefits or other compensation elements.
What is the average registered nurse salary in Arkansas?
The average registered nurse salary in Arkansas is $81,520 per year, with a median of $78,940. The $2,580 gap between those two figures tells you that a segment of higher-compensated roles pulls the average up, so the median is the more grounded anchor for most offer decisions you will make.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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